We may only be six games into the 2023 season, but there is one glaring problem with the St. Louis Cardinals: pitching.
Now, this really shouldn’t come as any surprise to spectators across Major League Baseball. The Cardinals were extremely average in the starting pitching and bullpen department last season.
And while the lineup has improved with budding stars like Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman, and Jordan Walker, John Mozeliak and the front office failed, or moreso refused to address pitching depth, especially in the starting rotation.
Miles Mikolas was the Birds’ Opening Day starter, and while he’s been solid for STL since arriving in 2019, Mikolas has even displayed less than stellar stuff through two outings in 2023.
He was beaten up against Toronto last week, giving up five earned runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts in three and one-thirds innings of work, and surrendered another five earned on nine hits this time in six innings to Atlanta on Tuesday night. The Cards ended up dropping both games.
Along with Mikolas’ struggles, the return of Steven Matz and the gap-filling of Jake Woodford (six earned on seven hits to ATL) was also underwhelming.
Matz lasted five and one-thirds innings, giving up four earned on 10 hits with one walk in a 4-1 loss to the Braves earlier this week.
Although there have been a few low spots for the Cardinals starting rotation, there have also been a few positive takeaways.
Jack Flaherty, despite issuing seven free passes, did not surrender any hits or runs in five innings of action on Saturday afternoon. And considering he dropped the coldest hype video of 2023, I am not the least bit surprised.
Southpaw Jordan Montgomery also showed flashes of last season’s success in the rubber match against Toronto on Sunday, delivering a five-inning outing in which he gave up just three earned on six hits in a 9-4 win.
As for the bullpen, there are some kinks that need working out with flamethrower Jordan Hicks and 2022 All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
Hicks has gotten off on the wrong foot out of the pen, giving up five earned runs on six hits and five walks in just three and one-thirds innings of work.
Helsley, in two appearances, has recorded one loss and one save, dishing out two strikeouts while allowing two earned on four hits with one free pass.
Bright spots in the pen come from none other than the young lefty studs Packy Naughton and Zack Thompson.
Naughton had an up-and-down experience in 2022 but has come out firing this season for the Redbirds.
In four and one-thirds scoreless innings of relief, Naughton has given up just two hits while striking out four.
Thompson has picked up right where he left off in 2022.
The University of Kentucky product (Go Cats) has continued to impress the Cards coaching staff, allowing just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts in three and one-thirds scoreless innings.
While six games is a small sample size, and the Atlanta Braves are a National League pennant favorite, the Cardinals still clearly have some loose screws to tighten early in the season.
Luckily, with a trio of upcoming series against Milwaukee, Colorado, and Pittsburgh, the St. Louis pitching staff should have plenty of chances to make adjustments and finally get things clicking in the right direction.
And if not, Mo and the boys better open up the billfold cuz I’m tired of settling for the Wild Card round. The Cardinals should be in a position to easily take the NL Central while gunning for a bye to the NLDS. Anything less is unacceptable with the best corner infield and some of the best young talent in the league taking the field night-in and night-out.
As always, Le’s Go Cards.